Small Group Tour And Heli Hike
Mt Cook Small Group Tour & Heli Hike Combo from Queenstown
from $687.27 per person
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- Duration
- 12 hours
- Meeting point
- The Station, Queenstown
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation
- Run by
- Cheeky Kiwi Travel
Overview
This day out from Queenstown pairs a guided bus run to Aoraki Mount Cook with a helicopter flight onto the Tasman Glacier and a 3 hour glacier visit including a guided hike on the ice. Cheeky Kiwi Travel runs the road portion with a maximum of 15 travellers, and the glacier section is handled by a flight partner based at Mount Cook. You meet at The Station on Shotover Street at 6:30 AM and get back there about twelve hours later.
The drive north is broken up rather than endured. Stops include Cromwell, the Lindis Pass, Omarama, Lake Pukaki and a salmon farm shop on the return leg, so there are regular chances to stretch, eat and take photos. Once at Mount Cook, the helicopter delivers the group onto the glacier for the guided hike, then flies you back down.
All the technical gear is supplied: leather boots, socks, gaiters, crampons or snowshoes depending on conditions, walking poles, a waterproof jacket and over trousers. Snacks and water are provided on the bus, but lunch is not, so bring money for food stops. The trip suits people with solid fitness who can handle a long day and a lot of walking, and reviewers repeatedly single out the guides on both the bus and the glacier as a strength of the experience.
From$687.27 per person
Duration12 hours
Rating4.8 from 68 reviews
What's Included
Included
- Small Group Fully Guided Bus Tour from Queenstown & Return
- Tasman Glacier Heli Hike including all equipment
- 2 Scenic Helicopter Flights
- Water available & snacks provided
- Leather boots, socks, gaiters, crampons/snowshoes, walking poles, waterproof jacket, over trousers
- Air-conditioned vehicle
Not Included
- Lunch - opportunities to purchase along the way
- Toilets on board (Restroom on board)
Run byCheeky Kiwi Travel
Itinerary
- Meet in QueenstownMeet the guide at The Station, Home of Adventure, corner of Shotover and Camp Streets, at 6:30 AM.
- Cromwell stopA 5 minute stop, free to visit.
- Lindis PassA 15 minute photo and stretch stop.
- Omarama break30 minutes here, with a chance to buy morning tea or lunch at your own cost.
- Lake PukakiA 15 minute stop.
- Tasman Glacier heli hikeArrive at the Mount Cook Ski Planes and Helicopters base, then take two scenic helicopter flights with about 3 hours on the glacier, all included.
- High Country SalmonA 20 minute stop on the way back, optional purchases.
- Jackson OrchardsA 15 minute stop, with optional purchases.
- Return to QueenstownThe drive back ends at the same meeting point, about 1 hour from the last stop, roughly 12 hours after the 6:30 AM start.
Glacier Landing: Weather permitting
What To Expect From The Tour
A few practical points shape how this day goes, from clothing rules to weight limits on the helicopter.
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- Dress in layers. The operator asks for three to four warm upper body layers and no jeans. Boots, socks, gaiters, waterproofs and crampons are all provided, and several reviewers said they had not realised the gear was included, so there is no need to buy specialist kit.
- Fitness needed. A strong fitness level is required and a large amount of hiking is involved. The glacier visit involves around one and a half to two hours of actual walking on the ice, at a pace guided by conditions.
- Weather rules. The heli hike depends entirely on the weather and the flight partner's call on the day. Multiple reviewers mention flights being scrubbed or nearly scrubbed, and several say good weather made their day, so treat flying as a bonus rather than a guarantee.
- Food and drink. Water and snacks are provided, but lunch is not. There are purchase opportunities along the route, including the Omarama break, where one reviewer enjoyed hot drinks and sandwiches at a cafe.
- Long day out. With a 6:30 AM start and a return roughly twelve hours later, plus stops at Lindis Pass, Lake Pukaki and other points, this is a full day on the road and the ice. The group is capped at 15 travellers.
$687.27from, per person
12 hoursduration
4.8across 68 guest reviews
15guests at most
- Book early. The heli hike depends on availability with the airline partner and needs confirming. One reviewer advises booking well in advance because the flight portion fills up.
Common issues. Weather can cancel the helicopter flight at the last minute, and the flight partner decides on the day; if the flight is cancelled you are offered a different date or a full refund. The heli hike also depends on availability with the airline partner and can be swapped even when the weather is fine, which happened to one traveller days before departure. Travellers weighing 116kg or more may only be able to fly depending on other passengers' weights at check-in. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, is not recommended for people with back problems, serious medical conditions or pregnancy, and requires a strong fitness level. There is no toilet on board the bus.
Common Questions
What Is Included In The Price?
The guided return bus tour from Queenstown, the Tasman Glacier heli hike with all technical equipment, two scenic helicopter flights, water and snacks, and travel in an air-conditioned vehicle. Maximum group size is 15 travellers.
Is Lunch Included?
No. Lunch is not included, but there are opportunities to buy food along the way, including the 30 minute stop in Omarama. Water and snacks are provided on the bus.
Where Do You Meet And What Time?
Meet the guide at The Station, Home of Adventure, on the corner of Shotover and Camp Streets in Queenstown, at 6:30 AM. Some travellers meet at the Marmolata Cafe end. The tour ends back at the same point.
What Should I Wear And Bring?
Wear three to four warm upper body layers and no jeans. Boots, socks, gaiters, crampons or snowshoes, poles, a waterproof jacket and over trousers are all supplied. Bring money for lunch and any purchases at the stops.
What Happens If The Weather Cancels The Flight?
The decision to fly is made by the flight partner on the day and can be cancelled at the last minute. In that case you are offered a different date or a full refund.
Is This Tour Suitable For Everyone?
No. It is not wheelchair accessible, not recommended for pregnant travellers or those with back problems or serious medical conditions, and it is not suitable for people with walking disabilities because a large amount of hiking is involved. A strong physical fitness level is expected, and passengers weighing 116kg or more may only fly depending on the weights of others on the day.
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